Reciprocating rotary switch



E. E. SMART ANDF. P. GATES. RECIPROCATING ROTARY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1921.

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v 5149M EESM'ARZ' FP GAT S- E. E. SMART AND F. P. GATES. RECIPROCAT ING ROTARY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3,1921. 1,409,146 Patented Mar. 7, 192,2.

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ql n. IM-6 mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA E. SMART, OF HARTFORD, AND FREDERIC P. GATES, OF WEST HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE HART MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed May 3, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EZRA E. SMART and FREDERIC P. GATES, citizens of the United States, residing at Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, and West Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, respectively, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Reciprocating Rotary Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrlption.

Our invention relates to improvements in reciprocating rotary switches, and has for its object to provide a new and improved reciprocating rotary switch which shall be simple, durable and efficient in construction and comprise a small number of parts. It further has for its object to provide a reciprocating rotary switch having a radially moving pawl and having the advantages of standard switch construction. It further has for its object to produce a rotary reciprocatin switch in which the pawl is controlled ltiy a rack and pinion. It further has for its object to produce a switch having other novel and valuable features hereinafter particularly described.

The following is a description of an embodiment of our invention, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which 1 is a plan View of a switch emb0dying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 2+2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section on the line 33, Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a section through the axis of the switch on the line 4-4:, Fig. 3 V

Fig. 5 is a section through the base and switch mechanism onthe line -5'5, Fig. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a plan view of the switch arms and connected parts;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view and Fig. .8 is a detail of the part shown in Fig. 7;

Figs. 913 are views showing the stop plate with the pawl in different operative positions relatively thereto;

Fig. 14 is a detail. of the ratchet or stop plate on the line 1414, Fig. 16;

of the same;

Specification of Letters Patent.

RECIPROCATING ROTARY SWITCH.

Patented Mar. '7, 1922.

Serial No. 466,445.

Fig. 15 is a section of the same on the line 15-15, Fig. 16; and

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the ratchet or stop plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 is the base made of porcelain or other insulating material, having the ordinary cap cover 2. 3 is the switch handle formed in theshape of a pointer and pointing to the indicating marks upon the cap 2. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are the switch terminals with their bmding posts and spring contacts adapted to be engaged anddisengaged by the switch plates 8 and 9 carried by the spindle 10 to which the handle is secured so that pressure may be applied to turn the spindle in either dlrection as desired. This connection with the handle is preferably made through an actuating projection 11 connected to a spring plate 12, which is firmly secured to the spindle, having a slot fitting over the flattened end portion 13 and held against a shoulder at the bottom of said portion by a bushing 14, which in turn is held in place by a nut 15 engaging the screw threaded upper end of the spindle. This spring plate has portions engaging the spindle both above and below the driving spring 16, which spring is of the well-known type, having two ends which embrace the vertical portion of the spring plate and also embrace the vertical portion of anabutment 17 secured to the switch plates. This abutment has its upper end bent over and perforated so as to loosely surround the bushing 14.

The switch plates are separated by insulation and are clamped between two clamping plates 18 and. 19, which are riveted together as shown. 7 The plate 18 is integral withthe abutment 17 The clamping plate 19 has two downwardly projecting parallel ribs 20 between which lies a catch plate 21 having'a rack 22 which is engaged by a pinion 23 rigidly mounted upon the spindle 10. This pinion normally engages the central portion of the rack 22, and when turned in one direction moves the rack radially to the right (Fig. 7) and when turned in the other direction moves it radially to the left.

24 is a pawl carried by the catch plate.

V as

' with the pawl and switch arms morn any two adjacent pairs of stopwfaces; that The pawl 24 acts in conjunction with a peculiarly formed stop plate 25 secured firmly to the base 1 in any suitable manner. This stop plate is provided with twoserres of stop shoulders, A, A A A", iaclng in one directionand B, B B 13* facing in the opposite direction. The shoulders oi 'the first series are at a greater distance from the center of the stop plate than are the shoulders of the second series. shoulder of each series is at the end oi a raised portion 26 whose end portions are cut out from the sheet forming the stop plate and forced up above its surface, While its central portion 27 remains attached on its outer side as shown in Figs; 14: and 15.

When the pinion is in engagement with the central portion of the rack 22 as shown in Fig. 9', the pawl 24: engages portions of the opposing faces of an adjacent pair of stop shoulders, one of whi h belongs to each series. When the spindle, Fig. '9, is turned clockwise, the catch plate, together with its pawl 24, is moved radially outward, the spring 16 being simultaneously put under increased tension; The pawlthus is moved away from the stop faces of both shoulders. and when it escapes the outer stop face A, flies around until itengages the stop face B as shown in Fig. 11. is released the driving spring retracts the spindle slightly so as to draw the catch plate with its pawl inwardly until it engages stop faces of both series as shown inlFig. 9. WVhen the pawl is engaging the stop fares A and B and the handle is turned counter clockwise, the pawl is drawn 'inward radially so as to escape the stop face 13*, the spring 16 being simultaneous!y put under driving tension in the opposite dire-e tion, whereupon the catch plate, together angu'larly therewith, are moved count-.1: clockwise until the pawl engages the stop face B, whereupon, after the handle is released,'the spring 16' arts to give thespindle a slight reverse-1novcrnent. causing'the pawl to assume the position shown in Fig. 9. It willthus be seen that the handle (an be turned in one direction as long as desired so as to move the switch plate step by step to a complete circlun'tereitt'e, :or it can at any time "be-turnedin the opposite d'irccti'on so-as :to more the: switch plate step by step in the opposite direction to any extent desired. p

It-isto be noted-jthat the movement of the spindle which moves the catch plate soas to withdraw the-pawl from any stop face 1s greater than the angular distance between is,- the stop-tacos being 90 degrees apart-as shown .-in- Figs. 9;l-3;.. the actuating move ment of the spindle must always be slightly in exceiilq'oi 9!). degrees... On ac-countof this;

Preferably one switches.

hen the handle I the driving spring; acts to retract the spindle slightly after the catch plate has been stopped so as to either draw the pawl'inwardly to the position shown in Fig.0 or force it outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 9 relatively to stop i'aces of the two series, which movement hasalready becn're ferred to. This backward 1noveinent insures the placing of the pawl a position so that it isheld against movement in either direction whenever the spindle is turned. in either direction throughthefirst part of its movement, during which period he driving spring is being put under driving: tension.

This moving oi the catch plate and pawl inwardly or outwardly from a normal position and the n'oviding of two series of stop plates at different distances from the center is believed to be a radically new feature in;

It results'in a positively acting switch capable of being reciprocated as desired or off bein continuousl oierated in rs .i

one direction. This is oi? great advantage 111 electric ranges for whichthisiswitch is partuzularly ll1tBi1(l()(l,;S1l1fie' It e1 .bles a given position oi. the switch to be attained by either a backward or :1 forward movement, and oftentimes it ismore desirable, both for, convenience and as anelectrieal: proposition 'to move the switch backward one step instead o'l ilolnvart'lthree steps.

As will be evident to those skilled in. the l art. our invention perm-its of various modifications without departing from the SplI lt thereof or the scope-of the appended claims;

that we claim is: I v

1. In areciprocating rotary snap switch,

for placing said spring under increased. tension and causing Sil-IClPLWl to move radially away from said two faces when said spindle 1s turned in either direct omsaid springactand thereafter enter the. space between the next pain of adjacent stop. faces, and a switch plate 'moving ,angularly with said pawl. '2 i .Q 2..1n a reciprocating rotary snap switch,

ing; to cause said pawl to move angularly the combination of a ratchet plate having.

two series of. stop faces,, the stop facesef the two series being turned in opposite di-zv rections spaced apart singularly and; located at different distances from the eenter'..- a

pawl normally lying in, space, between two adjacent stop. faces belonging; to diflerentseries, an,operatihg spindle,a driving spring, means actuated by said spindle for placing saidspring under increased tension and causing said pawl to move radially away from said two faces when said spindle is turned in either direction, said spring acting to cause said pawl to move angularly and thereafter enter the space between the next pair of adjacent stop faces, a switch plate moving angularly with said pawl, said means comprising a rack carried by said pawl, and a pinion carried by said spindle and normally engaging an intermediate portion of said rack.

3. In a reciprocating rotary snap switch, the combination of a ratchet plate having two series of stop faces, the stop faces of the two series being turned in opposite directions spaced apart angularly and located at dilferent distances from the center, a pawl normally lying in the space between two adjacent stop faces belonging to different series, an operating spindle, a driving spring, means actuated by said spindle for placing said spring under increased tension and causing said pawl. to move radially away from said two faces when said spindle is turned in either direction, said spring act ing to cause said pawl to move angularly and thereafter enter the space between the next pair of adjacent stop faces, a switch plate moving angularly with said pawl, said means acting to cause said pawl to disengage said faces after the spindle has been revolved more than the angular distance be tween two adjacent pairs of faces.

4. In a reciprocating rotary snap switch, the combination of a ratchet plate having two series of stop faces, the stop faces of the two series being turned in opposite directions spaced apart angularly and located at different distances from the center, a pawl normally lying in the space between twoadjacent stop faces belonging to different series, an operating spindle, a driving spring, means actuated by said spindle for placing said spring under increased tension and causing said pawl to move radially away from said two faces when said spindle is turned in either direction, said spring acting to cause said pawl to move angularly and thereafter enter the space between the next pair of adjacent stop faces, a switch plate moving angularly with said pawl, said means acting to cause said pawl to disengage said faces after the spindle has been revolved more than the angular distance between two adjacent pairs of faces, said pairs of faces being spaced apart approximately ninety degrees.

In a reciprocating rotary snap switch, the combination of a ratchet plate having two series of stop faces, the stop faces of two series being turned in opposite directions spaced apart angularly and located at different distances'from the center, a pawl normally lying in the space between two adjacent stop faces belonging to different series, an operating spindle, a driving spring, means actuated by said spindle for placing said spring under increased tension and cansing said pawl to move radially away from said two faces when said spindle is turned in either direction, said spring acting to cause said pawl to move angularly and there after enter the space between the next pair of adjacent stop faces, a switch plate moving angularly with said pawl, said means comprising a rack carried by said pawl, and a pinion carried by said spindle and non mally engaging an intermediate portion of said rack. said rack and pinion causing said pawl to disengage said faces after said pinion has been revolved more than ninety degrees.

6. In a snap switch, a ratchet plate composed of a body portion and a plurality of curved projections rising therefrom, the ends of said projections forming a plurality of pairs of stop shoulders, the stop shoulders on corresponding ends being further removed from the center than the other shoulders.

7. In a snap switch, a ratchet plate composed of a body portion and a plurality of curved projections rising therefrom, the ends of said projections forming a plurality of pairs of stop shoulders, the stop shoulders on corresponding ends being further removed from the center than the other shoulders, and a radially movable pawl normally engaging opposing faces of one of said pairs, and means for moving said pawl in either direction so as to disengage both shoulders of any pair with which it may be in engagement.

8. In a snap switch, a spindle, a spring surrounding the same, a spring plate rigidly connected to said spindle and embraced by both ends of said spring, a switch plate, an abutment connected to said switch plate and embraced by both ends of said spring, said switch plate having a bearing on said spindle both above and below said spring. and means for driving said spindle through said spring plate.

9. In a snap switch, a spindle, a spring surrounding the same, a spring plate rigidly connected to said spindle and embraced by spindle above the upper end of said spring plate.

v 10. In a snap switch, a spindle, a spring surrounding the same, a spring plate rigidly connected to said spindle and embraced by both ends of said spring, a switch plate, an above the ipper endof said spring plate, abutment connected to saidswlteh plate and and a bushing surrounding said spindle and embraced by both ends of said spring, said passing loosely through. the upperend of 10 switch plate having a bearing on said spindle said abutment and firmly held against the both above and below said spring, a driving upperv end of said spring late.

projection on the upper end of said spring EZRA E. MART.

plate, said abutment embracing said spindle I FREDERIC P. GATES. 

